A fireworks display for the 50th annual Bay-Rama Fishfly Festival in New Baltimore was cancelled late Thursday due to safety concerns over the barge the fireworks were to be shot off from.

New Baltimore Police Chief Tim Wiley said an equipment failure on one of the vessels the fireworks were aboard forced the cancellation, to the disappointment of thousands of people gathered to see the show.

“They’re hoping they can repair the problem in time to have the fireworks rescheduled for Friday night,” Wiley said.

Online rumors that the barge sank in Lake St. Clair’s Anchor Bay were false, according to Wiley.

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The decision to cancel was made jointly by the New Baltimore police and fire departments, along with officials from the Bay-Rama executive board, including Mayor John Dupray, who serves as the committee’s president.

Wiley said the Walter and Mary Burke Park along the waterfront was packed with people, while hundreds more were in boats in Anchor Bay. He said those on the water were notified of the cancellation by the Macomb County Sheriff’s and New Baltimore marine patrols.

“There were some significant safety concerns,” Wiley said. “The barge was riding low in the water and it was pretty obvious something was wrong. We didn’t feel comfortable trying to move forward.”